Professor Sara Monoson, Chair of the Department of Political Science at Northwestern, writes:
Given that Prof. Stevens has chosen to publicize what might have remained a confidential personnel matter, I can offer an unadorned timeline that will illuminate what set the university's action in motion. Prof. Stevens' research and political activity had nothing to do with it whatsoever.
Back in March 2016, Prof. Stevens filed a formal complaint against associate chair Prof. Tillery alleging verbal abuse. Prof. Tillery engaged an attorney to demand that she retract the false and defamatory accusation. She refused. She asked the university for indemnification. The university engaged an independent investigator whose credentials both parties approved. The investigator’s report concluded that indemnification was not warranted. That report also placed her behavior towards Prof. Tillery in the broader context of her pattern of uncivil and threatening conduct towards multiple faculty, staff and students in the department. The university is now dealing with this information according to established procedures. Prof. Stevens is doing her thing.
I hope you will ask more questions. For instance, why would she ask a university she claims to be persecuting her for indemnification?
I did ask that question in reply, and a couple of others, and will report further, probably later today.
UPDATE: I queried Prof. Monoson about whether there were other complainants and about other examples of threatening behavior by Prof. Stevens. Prof. Monoson replied:
I cannot give you examples. There are many. But I must stand by the process. You might see if Prof. Stevens will release the full text of the Dean's letter to her. But I am constrained by the rules of confidentiality.
I can say that Prof Stevens' years-long pattern of conduct towards faculty, staff and students in the department alarms people. Her political activity is beside the point. Our dean is following up on matters that come out of the department. I am fully confident that the Dean is acting with one goal only in mind -- to support the ability of everyone in the department to do their scholarship and teaching and to be able [to] tend to common affairs in spirit of collegiality. I understand that he is following established procedures. Certain kinds of questions trigger certain kinds of protocols. The Dean's action (requiring her to be away from campus during a leave) I understand to be protocol.
Please look closely at her online behavior towards colleagues in evidence right now.
Isn't her online campaign to place herself at the center a grand conspiracy at and indeed beyond Northwestern illuminating?
I find it plausible, if not wholly satisfying, that confidentiality rules bar Prof. Monoson from discussing the details of other cases, beyond the case involving Prof. Tillery, which is now a matter of public record. If, in fact, Prof. Stevens is allowed to release the Dean's letter to her (I assume she has the right to waive confidentiality), she should do so. (I did worry from her original presentation that she was representing its contents only selectively.) Presumably that letter will clarify whether or not this is politically-motivated retaliation or a legitimate administrative response to unprofessional conduct.
ANOTHER: The Daily Northwestern has additional reporting as of today (Sept. 7). Some of the new details support Prof. Monoson's account, some comments are favorable to Prof. Stevens.
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